Four more Iron Range taconite workers have been detected with the deadly mesothelioma. With this, the total number of such patients goes to 63, a figure that is expected to swell as new cases continue to emerge owing to the long gestation period that is typical of the disease.
The Minnesota Department of Health reported the finding on Tuesday based on a review conducted by the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System. The University of Minnesota has initiated the study of Iron Range taconite workers that includes 69,000 people who are on record as having worked in the state’s mining industry from the 1930s and 1982. These people were exposed to asbestos while working in the taconite mines, and asbestos exposure is known to cause a rare but serious form of cancer called Mesothelioma. Since the disease remains dormant for as long as 40 to 50 years after the first contact, health officials are of the opinion that this is only the tip of the iceberg. More cases of mesothelioma are expected to emerge with the passage of time.
All details of the new cases, including medical details, professional history, and related aspects will be analyzed and listed in the Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study.